Utilizing the Six Realms of Meaning in Improving Test Scoress Through Strategic Planning by Rosnisha Stevenson and William Allan Kritsonis, PhD

Rosnisha D. Stevenson and William Allaneducation, exposing them to new and interesting
Kritsonis, PhD forms of sensory satisfaction” (Kritsonis,
Introduction2007, p. 284).  Expressiveness lies above and
             School districts around thebeyond the art, music and physical education
nation develop individual Campus Improvementclasses.  Although students are encouraged to
Plans on each campus in the district yearly basedexpress their artistic ways in the arts classes,
on ways they can improve their campus andthey are also encouraged to express themselves
make it better for the school, the students,artistically in other classes.
teachers, parents and the community.   One Literature is the art in which language is the
major component in schools in the state ofmedium of esthetic expression.  The subject
Texas is the TAKS test or the Texasmatter of literary study is the individual literary
Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. The Texaswork.  To understand literature it must be
Assessment of Knowledge and Skills standardizedstudied intrinsically to discover the unique patterns
test is a test that school children take in the stateof sound, rhythm, meter, and semantic figuration
of Texas yearly.  Students in Texas take thisas they are used in the creation of singular unitary
test in all grades, but have key grades wherecompositions.  Extrinsic factors may also add
they must pass the test in order to either movevaluable insights, but only as they are employed
on to the next grade level or graduate from highto illuminate the inherent structure of each work
school.  Students enrolled in Elementary Schoolsitself. (Kritsonis, 2007, p. 362)
across the state of Texas must pass the With literature and writing being one of the
standardize TAKS test in order to move on tomajor components of the Texas Assessment of
the fourth and sixth grade. Knowledge and Skills that students often struggle
Eleventh grade students take the exit level testwith, getting together in these team meetings will
and most pass all five parts of the test, Reading,put the great minds of educators together to
Writing, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science income up with a viable plan with making
order to graduate.  The students who areimprovements on this part of the test.
unsuccessful in obtaining a score of 2100, passing,“Literature is not intended to be translated
on all five parts are given several moreliterally.  As an art, it is meant to have esthetic
opportunities to pass before it is time for theirqualities that invoke thought and intellectually
senior class to walk across the stage andstimulate the reader or listener, even to
graduate; students who do not successfullyentertain” (Kritsonis, 2007, p. 368).  Students
complete the TAKS test are not permitted tostruggle with comprehending what they have read
graduate.  This has grown to be a monumentaland then have trouble translating it into a written
task for schools across the state and aexpression.
tremendous disappointment for the students whoTo understand literature, a student must see
do not pass the test.  Districts are faced withbeyond editing and factual representation. 
the challenge of how to reach out to the studentsLiterature generally exhibits use of images,
in Texas to make them successful on the Texassymbols, metaphors, analogy, double vision, and
Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.  Schoolmyth.  Can one then say that any works of
districts and schools throughout the state arewriting that exhibits these traits is to be
always looking for innovative and new ways toconsidered literature and therefore, a work of
improve the students test scores and the schoolsart? (Kritsonis, 2007, p. 374)
and districts accountability rating, which is basedIt all boils down to educators utilizing all six of the
largely on these test scores. realms, as they intertwine together in some form
 The fundamental task of any educationalor fashion.  When educators work together,
institution is to determine the manner of definingstudent success is the only possible and plausible
and organizing its curriculum.  At the outset theoutcome when used properly throughout all
obvious fact is that there is more to learn, moredisciplines.
to teach, and more to put in the curriculum thanSynnoetics
time available presents the educators with hardThe fourth realm, synnoetics, “embraces
choices. (Kritsonis, 2007, p. v)what Michael Polanyi calls ‘personal
 Through the strategic planning in team meetingsknowledge’ and Martin Buber the
throughout the various departments in a school‘I-Thou’ relation. This personal or relational
and faculty meetings, the school can come upknowledge is concrete, direct, and existential.  It
with ideas on how to incorporate the realms ofmay apply to persons, to oneself, or even to
meaning in their classrooms to assist each teacherthings” (Kritsonis, 2007, p. 12).  It is important
with improving the education of their students,with this realm that educators enforce to their
which will ultimately lead to an improvement onstudents the importance of being responsible for
standardize test scores.  Teaching teams on thetheir own actions and taking some responsibility
school campus must involve a teacher fromfor the choices they make with their education.
every discipline in order for the team to be 
complete.  The teams must consist of someonePersonal knowledge is gained by not only
from each of the following departments (ifunderstanding the self, but understanding how
present) on the campus, Language Arts,others, whom one considers significant, sees one
Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Foreignas well.  If the people that one considers
Language, Career Technology, Fine Arts, Healthimportant shun him or her, then he/she is likely to
Physical Education and Technology Application. accept himself/herself as important.  Teachers
There should be at least one teacher from eachoften see this in children and are concerned about
discipline representing their respective subjectthe student’s self esteem. (Kritsonis, 2007, p.
area during these team meetings. 400)
Each campus must find a way to meet theirOnce students are taught by their parents and
mission statement, which is the guiding line forteachers to take responsibility for the actions that
each school and gives them insight of what isthey make, it will only strengthen the student all
needed on their campusimprovement plan toaround, making them more conscious of their
improve their school.  “An educationalactions and their education.  Getting the students
institution or school system claiming to beon board with their education only simplifies what
purposive must make some attempt to classify,educators have set out to accomplish and making
codify, and integrate the knowledge base it hasthem more aware of what it is that they need in
selected to become part of its curriculum”order to achieve success in life.
(Kritsonis, 2007, p. v).   Schools can  achieve Ethics
this goal through The Ways of Knowing ThroughThe fifth realm, “ethics, includes moral
the Realms of Meaning (2007) by Dr. William Allanmeanings that express obligation rather than fact,
Kritsonis.perceptual form or awareness of relation.  In
 Purpose of the Articlecontrast with sciences, which are concerned with
            The purpose of this article is toabstract cognitive understanding, to the arts,
discuss ways school districts can meet one ofwhich express idealized esthetic perceptions, and
their goals on their campus improvement plan,to personal knowledge, which reflects
increasing their standardized test scores, using theinter-subjective understanding, morality has to do
six realms of meaning in the classrooms.  Thiswith personal conduct that is based on free,
article will focus on ways teachers canresponsible, deliberate decision” (Kritsonis,
strategically plan in their team meetings and staff2007, p. 13). This realm is another important realm
developments and ways to improve learning into teach students in relation to their education as
the classroom based on the realms of meaning. well.  Teachers must teach students about
Utilizing the realms of meaning will help schools;academic dishonesty and how to be ethically
teachers and students reach the goals they havemoral in life.  There have been numerous cases
set in their Campus Improvement Plan and theirabout students, as well as teachers, who have
Mission Statement.  School districts around theexhibited immoral ethics when it comes to the
country are faced with accountability ratings andTexas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test.
state mandated assessments, which plays a largeWhile it should be very obvious to people that
role in the funding that schools receive.laws are laws and that people must conform to
“Research have recognized the complexitiesthem for the good of society, many people
and formidable tasks associated with mandatedrationalize an excuse to break the “little”
accountability efforts, particularly in light of thelaws.  What obligation does the teacher have to
new demands for increased testing, publicset an example of total moral adherence to
reporting of results, and opportunities for parentsstudents?  How should people react to a teacher
to exercise choice options out of failing schools inwho sits in the back of the room at a faculty
the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001”meeting complaining about the students who talk
(Houle, 2006, p. 144).  With this increasingin class while the principal is addressing the
pressure from the state and on the national level,faculty? (Kritsonis, 2007, p. 450)
school districts are forced to come up with newIt is important that every teacher stresses to
and innovative ways to improve studenteach and every one of the students that they
standardized test scores, mainly student scoresteach the importance of honesty.  We as
on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge andteachers must lead by example.  All teachers and
Skills test.  Schools can reach the goals outlined inthe school must be on one accord when it comes
their Campus Improvement Plan and receive theirto academic dishonesty.  A school will not be
accountability ratings through constant planning inunified if one teacher allows students to be
team meetings and staff/professionaldishonest without any consequences and another
developments; coming up with ways to reach outteacher punishes the student for it, where is the
to students to assist them in learning andjustice in that and what is it teaching our
improving their test scores on the Texasstudents?
Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test. Guilt is a normal human emotion.  Most people
Symbolicsinherently try to do what they believe is right and
            The first realm, symbolics,are consciously aware of it when they do not. 
“comprises ordinary language, mathematics,When people do wrong and are punished for it,
and various types of nondiscursive symbolicsociety generally believes they deserve it.  If an
forms, such as gestures, rituals, rhythmicexisting rule is broken and the child is not
patterns, and the like” (Kritsonis, 2007, p. 11). punished, what does the child learn about
The realm of symbolics is something that shouldsociety’s moral convictions or about the
be discussed and planned out during teamimportance of the rule? (Kritsonis, 2007, p. 468)
meetings and staff development because it One factor that schools are placed with the
encompasses variables that are important toresponsibility of is educating and ensuring that
obtain and understand in order for students to bethey are producing citizens that are respectable
successful on the Texas Assessment ofand honest citizens in society.  Teaching teams,
Knowledge and Skills.  Symbolics is a realm thatalong with the entire campus, getting together
can be successfully utilized in all subject areas inand deciding on what they will and will not tolerate
public schools.  Symbols are visual representationsfrom students is an important thing to do. 
or visual aides that are common and known byStudents work more effectively when there is
almost everyone around, which can be as simpleconsistency throughout, when they can be
as your everyday traffic signs to the basicreassured that all teachers are going to tolerate
symbols used to govern the daily operations ofor not tolerate the same things in every single
schools that students are familiar with.  Theseclass. Students spend much of their day with their
basic symbols, everyday language, etc… can beteachers, so teachers do in fact, have a great
taught in all disciplines.  Teachers getting togetherinfluence on the students they teach and can help
and collaborating with one another can ensure thatthem make the right decisions in being ethically
these symbols are being taught in all classes andmoral students and citizens in society.
are universal amongst the disciplines through1. An idea of what human life can be and ought to
teachers getting together in team meetings. be is consistent with the facts of human
Professional Learning Communities, also known asexperience and with the persistent visions of
PLC’s, have been successful in recent yearsuniversality, truth, beauty, love, duty, and integrity
in adding student success.  “Scholarship onthat have come down in moral traditions of
professional learning communities indicates thathumankind.   It  states  a goal,  based on
change  is more  likely to be  effective and the  study of  human  potentialities, by 
 enduring  when  those  responsible  for  itswhich  the consequences  of actions  may  be
implementation are included in a shared assessed,  and  consequently provides a solid
decision-making process” (Scriber, Sawyer,ground for moral decisions.  On this foundation a
Watson, & Myers, 2007, p. 71).defensible and productive theory of morals can be
 It is imperative that each subject area is on oneestablished – a theory to which the entire
accord and is speaking a universal language wheneducative endeavor is seen as a moral enterprise
instructing students.  Speaking this universalaimed at the consummation of human life through
language to students within a school will ensurethe increase in meaning in all its realms. (Kritsonis,
that the students are well prepared and equipped2007, p. 476)
for recognizing the language, symbols, etc… Synoptics
when they view the information on the TexasSynoptics is the sixth realm of meaning. 
Assessment of Knowledge and Skills, ultimatelySynoptics “refers to meanings that are
improving their success rate.comprehensively integrative.  This realm includes
 Empiricshistory, religion, and philosophy.  These disciplines
The second realm empirics,includes the science ofcombine empirical, esthetic, and synnoetic meaning
the physical world, of living things, and of man. into coherent wholes (Kritsonis, 2007, p. 13).  This
These sciences provide factual descriptions,realm is another realm that is used in a variety of
generalizations, and theoretical formulations andsubjects in the education field.  There is a saying
explanations that are based upon observation andthat says “you must know where you came
experimentation in the world of matter, life, mind,from before you know where you are
and society.  They express meanings as probablegoing”.  Educators must teach kids about the
empirical truths framed in accordance with certainpast, so that they will not repeat past mistakes,
rules of evidence and verification and making usebut make greater strides in life.  “Much of
of specified systems of analytic abstraction.people’s understanding of history is based on
(Kritsonis, 2007, p. 12)interpretations of the written or spoken stories of
Empirics deal with the sciences in everyday life. the past, in some cases hundreds or thousands of
The second realm focuses on the subject areasyears ago.  Every story has two sides, or more,
of physical science, biology, physics, psychology,and the side of the story that is accepted and
and the social sciences.  The second realm reliespassed on is generally that of the victor”
on factual information and educators must deal(Kritsonis, 2007, pg. 498).  We not only teach our
with and present all of the facts to the studentsstudents what we have learned but we also work
that they teach.  Teachers must gatheras a group to focus on what we have learned
information that is true and accurate in order tofrom the past. 
reach and teach their students to be successful            Through our staff/professional
on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge anddevelopments and team meetings, we look at
Skills test. With this realm of meaning, educatorsways that we can improve the school for the
can evaluate the data received from the Texasbetterment of the student’s success. 
Assessment of Knowledge and Skills to evaluateFocusing on what was successful in the past and
where their students stand and wheremoving towards a post modern approach in the
improvement is needed. way we develop Campus Improvement Plans, is
 The reading of measuring instruments is inwhat is in the best interest of our students.
principle the most simple and certain ofTimes have changed, the students have changed
operations.  It requires only the ability to perceiveand as educators, we have to embrace change
the position of a pointer on a scale.  Beingfor the success of the students we teach.
exactly defined and demanding only the most  Concluding Remarks
elemental sensory capacities, physical            In conclusion, student success
measurements yield data on which agreement byon the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and
all observers is possible, subject only to errors ofSkills test is based largely on the way teacher
measurement that can be progressively reducedteams can successfully relay the much needed
by refinement of instruments and repeatedinformation to the students. The nature of teams
observations. (Kritsonis, 2007, p. 181)in shared governance structures—the fact that
 Schools gather and evaluate important TAKSteams can organize to either find or solve
data on their students to access where theyproblems—has important implications for the
need to go from there or to examine thecreative leadership capacity of individual teams.
numbers that they have projected in theirThus, structures and social dynamics of distributed
Campus Improvement Plan for the school on theirleadership must be attended to and not taken for
TAKS test.  District and the individual schoolgranted.  Implications include (a) conceptualizing
accountability ratings play a major role in theleadership in terms of interaction, (b) needing to
validity of the school and the district.  Presidenthelp teachers become aware of conversational
George W. Bush introduced the No Child Leftdynamics that lead to or subvert effective
Behind Act to everyone, placing an extremecollaboration, and (c) needing to help principals
amount of pressure on schools and schoolbecome more aware of their role in helping to
districts, forcing them to look at the data andestablish clarity of purpose and appropriate levels
essentially come up with a new game plan. of autonomy, so that teams may engage in work
 The “No Child Left Behind Act” (NCLB)that leads to effective and innovative
became a law in 2001. No Child Left Behind hasproblem-finding and problem-solving activities.
added a new dimension to test based educational(Scribner, Sawyer, Watson, & Myers, 2007,
account-ability systems.  Features of state andp. 67)
No Child Left Behind accountability are discusses Through getting together as a team, in teaching
with an emphasis on questions of the validity ofteams and at staff developments, educators can
inferences that are made about school quality.  Itinstill in students the tools needed to make them
is concluded that none of the currentsuccessful in school and in life by utilizing the six
approaches to test-based accountability supportrealms of meaning in their instruction.
causal inferences about school quality.  It is also REFERENCES
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